Folding mechanism for a rowing device

ABSTRACT

A foldable rowing machine having a base, a sliding seat bar, and a wire-winding wheel. A resistance mechanism box extending from the base cooperates with an upright post to receive a rotating shaft in a shaft hole for rotatably supporting the sliding seat bar and the wire-winding wheel. Accordingly, in rotating the sliding seat upwardly and downwardly on the rotating shaft, the sliding seat bar is foldable in a storage and a operational position, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to a rowing machine with a folding function, andmore particularly, to a rowing machine having a sliding seat barrotatable on a rotating shaft in a use or a storage position.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,069 teaches a rowing exerciser with magneticresistance having a L-shaped front main frame, a sliding seat bar and arear support plate. An adjustable magnet-controlled rotation mechanismis interposed between two side bars of the front main frame.Corresponding screw holes are provided between the main frame and thesliding seat bar. A screw knob is employed for connection anddisconnection. In other words, the sliding seat bar is upwardly foldableonly when the screw knob is removed. After the folding action, anotherscrew hole is necessary for positioning the screw knob and protectingthe sliding seat bar from an unexpected release. Similarly, theabove-mentioned procedures have to be repeated to bring the sliding seatbar back to an operational position. Therefore, this conventionalconfiguration causes much trouble to the operators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention is to provide a foldable rowingmachine having a base, a sliding seat bar, and a wire-winding wheel. Aresistance mechanism box extending from the base cooperates with anupright post to receive a rotating shaft in a shaft hole for rotatablysupporting the sliding seat bar and the wire-winding wheel whereby, inrotating the sliding seat upwardly on the rotating shaft, the slidingseat bar is foldable in a storage position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention afterassembly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention in afolded position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention afterassembly; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention in afolded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a rowing machine with a foldingmechanism in accordance with the invention includes a base 10, a slidingseat bar 20, and a wire-winding wheel 30. A resistance mechanism box 11extending from the base 10 cooperates with an upright post 13 to receivea rotating shaft 14 in a shaft hole 12 for rotatably supporting thesliding seat bar 20 and the wire-winding wheel 30. Accordingly, inrotating the sliding seat 20 upwardly on the rotating shaft, the slidingseat bar is foldable in a storage position.

The wire-winding wheel 30 is used to wind a pull wire 31 that is carriedby a plurality of pulleys 16 within an upright frame 15 and brought upto a pull grip 32, thereby allowing an user to take a rowing exercise.

Moreover, the sliding seat bar 20 can be provided with a movable seat 21thereon, foot braces 22 on both sides thereof, and a ground-touchingsupport 23 at a distal end thereof.

A coil spring (not shown) is fitted in the resistance mechanism box 11for providing a strong reversing force to the transmission shaft 14after being extended. Meanwhile, an adjustable flywheel resistancemechanism (not shown) is installed in the resistance mechanism box 11 aswell for providing resistance to the pull wire 31. The resistancemechanism of the rowing machine belongs to the prior art so that nofurther descriptions are given hereinafter.

In order to limit the folding angle of the sliding seat bar 20, an endstop 18 is fitted to a crossbar 17 under the sliding seat bar 20.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, another preferred embodiment is shown. Inthis embodiment, the upright frame 15 and the sliding seat bar 20 areintegrally formed to a single unit that is rotatable on the rotatingshaft 14 and foldable in a storage position

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A foldable rowing machine comprising a base, a sliding seat bar, anda wire-winding wheel, a resistance mechanism box extending from the baseand cooperating with an upright post to receive a rotating shaft in ashaft hole for rotatably supporting the sliding seat bar and thewire-winding wheel, whereby, in rotating the sliding seat upwardly anddownwardly on the rotating shaft, the sliding seat bar is foldable in astorage and a operational position, respectively.
 2. A foldable rowingmachine comprising a base, a sliding seat bar, and a wire-winding wheel,a resistance mechanism box extending from the base and cooperating withan upright post to receive a rotating shaft in a shaft hole forrotatably supporting the sliding seat bar and the wire-winding wheel, anupright frame being integrally connected to a front end of the slidingseat bar, whereby, in rotating the sliding seat upwardly and downwardlyon the rotating shaft, the upright frame is moved with the sliding seatbar in a storage and a operational position, respectively.